Can someone help me with the lewis structure of SOCl2? Why is it structure A and not structure B? (Please see the comments for the structures) I find that the formal charge for each element in both structures are 0. Thank you!

Question

anonymous · Answer

Structure A:
     O
     ||
Cl-S-Cl

Structure B:
Cl-O-S-Cl

anonymous · Answer

If you have more then two elements, the lowest ionization enerygy goes in the middle. That will explain one feature so, you can check it that way.

anonymous · Answer

On a more theoretical level, the reason why is because like charges repel and unlike charges attract.  Electrons repel other electrons, thus they try to get as far apart from each other as they can but still "orbit" the protons.  (note: that when I say orbit, it's not really like a planet going around the sun and more like a vibrating string on a guitar).

It would be fair to to say it CAN exist as structure B (like when first being formed as a product from a reaction), but it's an unstable/intermediary state that doesn't last long before it settles down into a more stable structure.  So it's pretty much non-existent.  Kind of like how water flows downhill to collect in depression in the ground.